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Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Happy Wednesday! My desk is super busy & messy this week! I played a lot in the Command Center and am putting the finishing touches on my project. Click on over to the Stamping Ground to read more about WOYWW and take a tour around the world!

Over the weekend, I decided to do the "Journaling By 5s" challenge. The challenge was started by Shannon Green and her YouTube channel. I found out about it from Let's Get Inkie who I following on YouTube and thought it was a good way to get some pages done.

Basically, you allow yourself only 15 minutes per step to work on 20 pages at one time and when you're all done, you'll have a complete Art Journal. The five steps are:

Color

Texture (paper, fabric, texture paste)

Stamps/Stencils

Focal Images/Words

Pen/Pencil (doodles & highlights)

Years ago I purchased five small journals/scrapbook albums from a yard sale that "one day I'll use". I have used two of them as guest books for different events (one being my parents' 50th wedding anniversary in 2012). The other four, yeah, just sitting there for going on six years now. I decided to use these albums for this project. Although, Shannon suggests 20 pages to work on, I only had 12 plus four covers. It was still a challenge to get them completed within the 15 minutes (I had to give myself more time during the stenciling).

Some of the pages in progress

I pulled out supplies prior to starting the timer so I wouldn't waste valuable time. The idea is to not think too much about what you're doing - just get it done.

Love the messy fingers!

One of my family's mottos is: "We do what we want...No one tells us what to do." It's kind of a joke, we're not really rebels, but we always say it. So...knowing that about me, I sort of skipped step #4 since I am planning on using these pages as a scrapbook album. The photos will be the focal image. I'll post photos of the completed project soon.

I plan to give one to my cousin's daughter for her high school graduation this weekend. Congratulations Ashley - Fowler Redcats Class of 2017!!

Don't forget to hop on over to Stamping Ground and visit the other deskers!

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

I almost didn't post but it's the 8th anniversary of the WOYWW. There is nothing going on in the craft room as of 11:00 Wednesday morning. Here's a photo of my desktop. I've been playing around with Design Space for the Cricut. The more I play in there, the more excited I become...so many opportunities!!

Click HERE to see what the WOYWW is all about and visit other desks around the world. Take a peek, leave a comment and be inspired!
Happy Anniversary!

**We had 102 degree weather yesterday and we're supposed to match it the rest of the week. I am not ready for the summer heat! UGH

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

It's been forever since I participated in a swap on splitcoaststampers.com. As a matter of fact, I think I was a little addicted for a while there. But, I did get some great Disney pieces and have pretty much used all of it. So...I joined another one!

We had to include these items:

Title

Photo Mats

Journaling Spot

Embellishment (at least one)

All Pieces

Close Ups:

I used the Cricut Mickey & Friends cartridge for the cuts. The border embellishments are from the paper scraps plus some punches.

Disney projects are always so fun and colorful! I hope the other swappers like them! I know I do!

Sunday, May 21, 2017

These two new sets are part of the new Art Journal Collection stamps at Bloom Art Stamps. They are Doodle I and Doodle II.
There are so many "doodles" that it was a little overwhelming at first and I didn't know where to start. But then I remembered that I took two different Layering Backgrounds classes at the Expo and told myself, "You Got This!"

First Card:

Close Up

I sprayed four colors of distress ink sprays onto a piece of transparency. Then sprayed water to blend the colors together. Carefully lift the plastic and smoosh onto the blank white cardstock. Move it around until you get full coverage. Let it dry. Since I used regular cardstock, I took the dried piece to my iron & flattened it. I usually place these pieces under a thick book, but I didn't have time for that!

Next I placed the various medallion stamps on an acrylic block and stamped them all over the base. Then I took the circle/dash border stamp and stamped diagonally in white all over the background. It is so light and barely noticeable but I LOVE it!

This time I spritzed the ink directly on the white cardstock. Spritzed water drops before it dried. Once dried, I stamped the round border stamp across the bottom in lt. gray ink. Stamped the daisy in white ink all over the background and then three of the vine/blossom on the right side. I dropped some white homemade paint spray to create some white splats and interest.

Splats is the current challenge on Happy Little Stampers so I'm entering this card for their May Mixed Media challenge.

I used the MISTI to stamp the sentiment. I love using the MISTI for these "uneven" backgrounds. Even though I ironed the piece, it is still not completely flat. I had to stamp the sentiment three times in black archival ink. Added some bling, adhered directly to the kraft card base and done!

Friday, May 19, 2017

The first one is from the Stick It Down website. Here's the sketch & my layout. I love the side borders. I gathered black/white, gold and purple papers to make these. The Happy Birthday and Party Time embellies were cut using the free Cricut Access images. The Birthday Girl title is from the Storybook cartridge. Besides the cool side borders I basically did a mosaic look on this double page layout.

What a great way to use up scraps! This was such a fun party and one that my SIL needed. I wish I would have taken more pictures, but I just didn't have time.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Here's a shot of my granddaughter and my daughter-in-law with their bleached t-shirts. LeAnna picked out both images and sprayed the bleach. She told me she didn't like the color "bleach" and didn't want to spray hers, but I didn't have any other fabric ink/paint so we did it anyhow. We were both so excited to see the bleach turned her purple shirt to pink. But she was ok with the "bleach" color when making her Mother's Day gift for her mama. LOL

Both images were cut using Cricut Access free images. I typed in "rose" and later "love" in the search bar then clicked on the filter icon to see only free Cricut Access images.

Pretty cool! My coworkers are excited to do their own soon. As I've mentioned before, I always host CRAFT DAYS at work. I try to find something that is quick & easy but also something they actually want.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Happy Wednesday and Happy WOYWW! Since many of my Wednesday peeps left positive comments regarding the retreat, I thought I'd post the Flip Through on a Wednesday. But first, my desk - messy as always!

The Disney stuff on the side are for a swap that I'm in at Splitcoaststampers. I haven't done swaps in a long, long time. I used up most of the Disney swap items I had collected years ago and I figured I need to collect more. I'll do a post on these soon so you can get a better look.

And now, the layouts completed.

The weather was a little cold for outside meals, but it was sunny & beautiful. We did have some rain on one day (was it Saturday?? the days blended together). The mountain location is just perfect for a short getaway plus Carly and I stopped at some thrift stores on the way home and bought some treasures.

Head on over to the Stamping Ground to read more about WOYWW and visit other desks. Happy Wednesday everyone!

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Thanks again for everyone who became a follower and left a comment during the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog's Blog Hop. Because I'm an old school type of gal, I put each name on a piece of paper, placed them in a hat and had my hubby pick a winner.

The winner is:

CONGRATULATIONS Ldybg93! You have won your choice of three page kits, layout kits, and/or premade layouts. I have lots to choose from and can also make one if you have something specific in mind.

Here are photos of some of them.

Page Kits (include a minimum of 3 pieces of cardstock, 2 patterned papers and a multiple amount of embellishments)

Monday, May 15, 2017

Challenge #301-AnimalsMake a project about any kind of animal-dogs, cats, horses, cows, etc!

The FCCB Design Team is sponsoring a $25 gift card at

Amazon!

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used. If you use a Cricut Explore machine, at least one cut must be from the Cricut catalog of images.

If it isn't a card, you will get two entries into the drawing!

I've been meaning to make this treat holder for our Gracie Lou for sometime and this challenge gave me the nudge that I needed. This project started off as a Christmas Popcorn Trio Tin. I lightly sanded the outside, taped & balled up newspaper to protect the inside and then spray painted it. I cut the paw print using the Paper Pups cartridge and Don Juan font for her name.

I curved Gracie's name in Design Space before cutting the vinyl. This made it so easy when placing it on the tin.

I loved this rubber book/tulip image from Pattie's Creations so much, I created another card. Pattie's Creations is the current sponsor for this month's challenge on Creative With Stamps (CWS) challenge site. It's not too late to join the link!
This time I used a brighter color theme. The background started with a gelli print and I added gold Heidi shine and some other marks stamped using the Elements 3 Bloom Art Stamps and gold & black inks. The sentiment is an old Stampin' Up one. It's perfect for any occasion.

Before adhering the stamped image, I added multiple strips of bright washi tapes. I absolutely love the tiny gold "love" washi tape! I bought it in preparation for my son's upcoming wedding and all those scrapbook pages I'm going to make.

I used a sketch on the Stick it Down challenge site. Since I cannot post the card until after May 1st, I'm not entering in their monthly challenge, but still like the sketch.

This is the second card I made with this digi stamp. Click HERE to see the other card.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

My daughter and I just returned from a Scrapbooking Weekend Retreat and we both accomplished so much! My goal was to start & complete my cruise album and I did it!

This photo was taken on the Elegent Cruise night. I don't normally scrapbook 8 1/2 x 11 photos, but I liked this sketch from May challenge sketch at My Creative Sketches and followed it.

I love how the background cardstock matches the photo background. I made a lot of embellishment clusters in this album and I just love them. I purchased a Mexico cruise scrapbooking kit while on the cruise and used most of the papers, stickers and pocket page cards for the album. The life preserver & steering wheel thingy and seagulls were cut from my Cricut. I used enamel dots and some Heidi Swapp spray inks (gold) to add some fun as well.

I'm having a good laugh on that ridiculous pose my DH & I are in but it's still a decent photo and one full of memories.

Please check out the My Creative Sketches website for the sketch, DT inspirations and join the challenge.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

I cut the rose image on freezer paper to make a stencil. This is an old t-shirt that I had cut up (see the strips in the back) and use as jammies. After ironing the stencil on the shirt, I tucked an old towel in it and then sprayed some bleach.

I LOVE IT! Now I need to make one for realsies!

The rose image is from Cricut Access so I don't know the actual cartridge. Be on the look out for more of these stenciled shirts in the future!

Maybe a future instructional video?? We'll see :)

Speaking of Cricut projects...don't forget to join the FCCB #300 challenge. We are giving away a new Cricut and more!
BTW - I'm out in the mountains at a Scrapbooking Retreat. I'll post photos of my completed layouts/projects when I return on Monday.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Happy Wednesday everyone! I'm so excited to tell you guys that my daughter and I are leaving this Friday afternoon to a Scrapbooking Retreat! We go every year on Mother's Day weekend, but due to some scheduling changes, we had to switch it a week earlier this year.

The place we go is part of a Christian Camp in the mountains & we stay at the Silver Ridge House. It's so beautiful and peaceful up there AND the bonus is not having to cook or clean for 3 1/2 days! They do all the cooking and kitchen clean up. We each get our own twin bed and sleep at least 4-5 women in each room. All the women that attend are part of our little scrapbooking group in the town that we live in. It's amazing!

Now to my work area...my desk is clear since I've packed away most of my stuff! I know I always over pack but you just never know what you'll need. Good thing scrapbookers love to share their stash. Even if I forget something, I can get some from my fellow scrapbooker and vice versa plus there's a Joanne's about two miles from the house.

I can't wait to show photos of my completed layouts. I'm hoping to start and finish our Cruise Album.

To qualify for the gift certificates, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cuton your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used. If you use a Cricut Explore machine, at least one cut must be from the Cricut catalog of images.

There is a limit of three entries per person. BE SURE TO LINK YOUR PROJECT ON THE FCCB WEBSITE.

Be sure to visit each Design Team member leave a comment and become a follower - those will be put into a drawing for their blog candy (if offered).

I've never been a part of a Blog Hop so I'm super excited about this one! I kept my Mother's Day card pretty simple this year. My mom loves all things chili peppers so I know she'll love this card. The chili peppers were cut from the Ole cricut cartridge and placed on the card with dimensionals. I added some Wink of Stella in the white areas & a few embellishments to complete the card.

This is one of my favorite cartridges. I just LOVE it! It is so fun!

Be sure to follow the Blog Hop for inspiration as well as opportunities to win multiple prizes. Become a follower of my blog & leave a comment to be placed in my personal giveaway. The randomly drawn person will be announced on May 15th. Winner will get their choice of 3 scrapbook kits/layouts that I create.